Heat Injuries.

azrocks · Joined: 14 Jan 2003 Posts: 19

20 years ago, we dayhiked the Grand Canyon with a liter of water, and the
rescues were for dehydration. 10 years ago, the trip leader would make
everyone carry and drink 6 liters, and I would chug down 2 liters at breakfast,
and the Park Service rescues were for hyponatremia. Maybe now we will switch
back to dehydration. The usual advice now is to monitor urine color and
frequency, but I wonder how many do that. On that evidence, I'm drinking way
too much, but I worry about running out of water, not salt. I also drink much
more from a bladder - I believe that's how I got converted from bottles !
I read somewhere that the salt level in the brain takes 24-48 hours to adjust,
so if the salt level outside the brain goes up or down, osmotic pressure causes
the brain to shrink or swell, and that it's the brain swelling from hyponatremia
that kills you.

Hikngrl · Posted: 6/4/2003, 4:16 pm Post subject:

sidhayes-
I'd love to be able to hike or work out everyday but some of us work a schedule that does not allow such luxuries.... I am doing good getting three work outs a week. If I don't hike I play racquetball and that is also a good work out. Then there is the matter of having hiking/racquettball partners with witch to play....

sidhayes · Joined: 04 Jan 2003 Posts: 116

Regardless, the problems are still basically a matter of ones physical condition.

maryphyl · Posted: 6/4/2003, 7:09 pm Post subject:

GeorgAz · Joined: 04 Jan 2003 Posts: 815 Location: Scottsdale

Excuse me sidhayes! I am a gym rat+ x dancer.I am at the gym either on an elliptical plus weights plus kickbox class at least 5 days a week. I do have exercise induced asthma,especially when the dirt,heat and ozone are high.Conditioning is not the problem. I do much better in Flagstaff even with elevation, as the air is clean! Real air! What a concept!! I usually try to head North on Mondays,but I hear that forests will be closing in Payson and Prescott.Not already! What a bummer! Sad

Anyone else hear about closings??

maryphyl · Posted: 6/5/2003, 11:53 am Post subject:

Slight change of subject here. A couple of months ago I added a drink mix to my Campmor order just to try it out. The brand is Boyds and it is called spiced country creme. It is supposed to be a hot drink. I tried some for the first time the other day and it was good cold and mixed up just fine. It tastes like egg nog--I guess it is egg nog. The reason I brought this up is because it seems like a good thing to carry for variety. It has 110 calories and 180mg of salt , weighs 1 ounce. and cost 50 cents.
_________________
Shikekeh hozhoogo naasha.
I walk in beauty.

sidhayes · Joined: 04 Jan 2003 Posts: 116

The elliptical is fine as well as are classes but I find that that they contribute little to the "real" world of hiking and learning to adapt to heat.

Arizonaheat · Posted: 6/5/2003, 4:59 pm Post subject:

GeorgAz · Joined: 04 Jan 2003 Posts: 815 Location: Scottsdale

Well Guys! My gym is old and kind of hot inside with not much moving air and I don't mind the sweating! I do not lag on hikes,either.Some of my deal is the sensitivity to the air quality and the pollution.Also I cannot take as much sun exposure as I did in the past,so any local hikes on my part are either early am or right before sunset.It's great right after a rain when the air is clear,but those days are few and far between !Really do enjoy Mt. Elden and trails on and around Humpheries.Wish I could get up there more often!

Guest · Posted: 6/6/2003, 7:08 am Post subject:

I find this all very interesting. I have asthma, induced by everything. Stress, exercise, allergens, pollutants. I also have pulmonary hypertension. And I workout, alot. I run most everyday. Most of my long runs (8+miles) are in the morning as that is when my time allows. I also run in the evenings 3x a week. I don't go to the gym anymore but I have a home gym, a nice one, and workout with weights 5 days a week. I also ride my bike on a regular basis. I consider myself to be in pretty porridge good shape. But, like George I have noticed that when the weather heats up and the pollution gets high I have a difficult time. Such as today. I missed my morning run due to asthma and and debating the use of a steroid burst to calm it down since none of the med's I have have been effective this time. I am in better shape at 43 than I was at 30. Yet my asthma continues to worsen. Also, like George, when I go up north, in spite of the altitude I have a much easier time. Of course conditionig is important and will improve how much we can withstand. But when you have a respiratory disorder, or anything else for that matter, there are factors that play in that one cannot totally control. Sid, I think instead of your insistance that it's all a matter of conditioning you should be grateful this doesn't affect you. And if it does that you have been fortunate enough to have it under control. Not all of us are so lucky. Your education and training should have taught you that.